Malaysian Grand Prix

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**Malaysian Grand Prix**
Sepang International Circuit
Laps	56
Circuit length	5.54 km (3.44 miles)
Race length	310.41 km (192.88 miles)
Most wins by single driver	Michael Schumacher (3)
Most wins by single constructor	Ferrari (4)
Last race (2006):
Winner	Giancarlo Fisichella
Winning team	Renault
Winning time	1:30:40.529
Pole time	1:33.840
Pole driver	Giancarlo Fisichella
Pole team	Renault
Fastest lap	1:34.803
Fastest lap driver	Fernando Alonso
Fastest lap team	Renault
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First included in the Formula One World Championship in 1999, the Malaysian Grand Prix is held at the hyper-modern Sepang International Circuit at Sepang, Malaysia, near Kuala Lumpur.

The seven Malaysian Grands Prix have seen a good deal of action on and off the track, whilst the weather — furnace heat one minute, tropical storm the next — adds extra spice. The most notable Grand Prix at Sepang to date was the inaugural event in 1999. It saw Michael Schumacher return to the sport after his absence due to a broken leg sustained at that year's British Grand Prix, dominating the race and handing the victory to title-hopeful teammate Eddie Irvine, only for both Ferraris to be disqualified due to a technical irregularity, handing the title — until the steward's decision was over-ruled — to Mika Häkkinen.

The 2001 event was hit by a heavy rainstorm in the middle of the race which made conditions very difficult. Conditions were so bad that the two Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello spun off almost simultaneously at the same corner. Remarkably, they both recovered to score a Ferrari '1-2'.

Since 2001, the Malaysian Grand Prix has moved from the end of the schedule to the beginning, which has seen some topsy-turvy results as teams and drivers get to grips with their new equipment, with many races heavily influenced by the winners and losers of the scramble for position into the tight double hairpin bend at the first corner.

[edit] Winners of the Malaysian Grands Prix

Year	Driver	Constructor	Location	Report
2006	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	Sepang	Report
2005	Fernando Alonso	Renault	Sepang	Report
2004	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Sepang	Report
2003	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren-Mercedes	Sepang	Report
2002	Ralf Schumacher	Williams-BMW	Sepang	Report
2001	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Sepang	Report
2000	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Sepang	Report
1999	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	Sepang	Report

[edit] Support Races

Formula BMW Asia and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia have supported the Malaysian Grand Prix since 2003. BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen presented the trophies to the race winners in 2003.